Take your time

What a year this has been.

For those who made a choice to avoid the news in 2023, I get it.

It. Was. A. Lot.

Moving on.

What has kept me sane during these trying times has been to reflect closely on my family and friends and the important role we must take to reach out more to connect with one another.

I have failed miserably to connect with the friends that mean so much to me.

Why? Because I didn't take that extra time and for that I'm sorry.

My life was focused on the day in which I was in and not much more.

How does this happen?

Jobs.

Check.

Kids?

Check.

What's left? Good question?

I think in our busy lives, it is so hard for us to create space in our weeks to connect with friends. Work consumes more than the 40 hours of week we provide it. Should it? For those who value our jobs, I would say yes.

My job brings me so much joy because of the opportunity to connect with so many young and inspiring people. These people are, for the most part, wanting to better themselves. When you see them excited, it makes everything worthwhile.

For those who have kids, once you add in the extra-curricular activities you signed them up for, what does that week look like?

More importantly, what have you got left?

Good question!

Can anyone else agree that sleep has seemed like a rare occurrence this fall?

How?

Too much on our minds? Yep.

How does this happen despite the fact the sun now sets around 5 p.m. and chooses not to reveal itself until we are firmly settled into our office chairs?

How do we, or more importantly, how do you battle through these long winter months?

One option? Take the time.

Another way to put it? Intentionally block out your calendar.

Can you make that happen?

If not, I totally understand.

Perhaps, instead we try to take the time to be grateful of all of those people in our lives. Be grateful for those In our workplaces and for those in our families and our immediate circles.

Appreciate those who are doing so much to bring a smile to your face on a daily basis. If people are not smiling around you, it's either time to find a new job or try to bring them some joy.

Hopefully it's the latter.

If your lives are too busy (what even is the definition of this overused word anymore?) and your social life is non-existent (yep), then take the time to send an easy text to a friend. Believe it or not, this small action can do a lot to bring joy to one another, even for a brief amount of time.

So as 2023 comes to a close, what do you want your 2024 to look like? For me it means being okay when I can't be everything to everyone.

I try so hard to do this, but it is exhausting and I am trying to now put my energy into where I think it is needed most.

How am I taking the time? By joining the local marathon club. By finding the time to watch a movie with my wife at the end of the day. By finding the time to share a laugh at work in the hallway, even it's five minutes between classes.

How are you taking the time?